Register for this event here.

Please arrive 15 minutes early to register for the event and browse books. Buying a book before or after the event is a great way to support the Making Worlds project!

Who gets to move freely, and who is policed for simply existing? This workshop/lecture explores the politics of moving through space—who is granted access, who is restricted, who is punished, and who enforces these boundaries. From racialized incidents like the Amy Cooper case, where a white woman weaponized the police against a Black man in Central Park, to the everyday gendered dynamics of manspreading on public transportation, to age restrictive curfews, and trans bathroom discourse, power is constantly negotiated through space. Not only is the state an arbiter of where and when you can be, but individuals are able to invoke the state at their behest to enforce their will. Why and how do people deem themselves as the arbiters of space?

We will discuss the historical, social and legal frameworks that shape these dynamics, including loitering laws, sundown towns, and contemporary policies that regulate movement. Beyond legality, we will discuss the social phenomenon of individuals attempting to assert power through spatial dominance. Through an intersectional lens, we will examine how race, gender, and other identities determine who is welcome, who is surveilled, and who is excluded in public and private spaces.

Join us for a critical conversation on the structures that govern mobility, the ways people resist spatial control, and how we can reimagine spaces that are truly equitable for all.

Alex Wilson is a sociologist and Health Equity Strategist specializing in data analysis, public health programming, and community outreach. With a deep focus on anti-oppression frameworks, racial justice, and harm reduction, Alex examines how systemic inequities shape access to space and movement. Their work engages with the intersections of race, gender, and legality in structuring public and private spaces. Alex has extensive experience in curriculum development, advocacy, and program management, working with organizations dedicated to LGBTQ+ justice, disability rights, and substance use harm reduction.